Monarch® Dark Dynasty Butterfly Bush

Light Needs

Partial Sun to Full Sun

(At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

2-3 Feet

Mature Spread

3-4 Feet

Growing Zones

5 to 8

Buddleia Monarch® Dark Dynasty, commonly known as Monarch® Dark Dynasty Butterfly Bush, is a small, compact shrub that is a magnet for pollinators. It features long panicles of vivid purple flowers starting in late summer and continuing until first frost. The flowers are honey scented and attract migrating monarchs, along with other pollinators. The soft gray-green leaves are also attractive and stay evergreen in warmer climates. 

Monarch® Dark Dynasty Butterfly is an upright, densely branched shrub that reaches 2 – 3 feet tall and only 3 – 4 feet wide. It will stay compact and is an excellent choice for small landscapes. It is drought tolerant, heat tolerant, cold hardy to zone 5, and deer/rabbit resistant. Plant several of these shrubs to create an outstanding flowering hedge, add them to a pollinator garden, or use them in a foundation planting to upgrade your curb appeal.

Monarch® Dark Dynasty Butterfly Bush Care

This shrub thrives in full sun, with at least 8 hours of sun a day. It adapts to many different soil types, although it prefers fertile, slightly alkaline soil. The soil must drain freely, as water-logged soil is the most common cause of death in this shrub. Water Monarch Dark Dynasty weekly to establish its roots over the first growing season, and then reduce supplemental water the following years. Fertilize in the spring with an organic, all-purpose formula.

Butterfly bushes are slow to wake up in the spring. It blooms on new wood, so prune freely in early spring once new growth starts. Deadhead to encourage rebloom. 

Monarch® Dark Dynasty Butterfly Bush Spacing

For planting a tight hedge, space these shrubs approximately 3 feet apart, center on center. Increase the spacing to 5 feet apart if a gap between bushes is desired.